Soil and weed treating apparatus



June 26, 1951 F. w. OPP ET AL 2,558,376

SOIL AND WEED TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1949.

INVENTOR. FRED w. OPP WALTER H. OPP

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 26, 1951 SOIL AND WEED TREATING APPARATUS Fred W. Opp, Costa Mesa, and Walter H. Opp, Altadena, Calif.

Application August 29, 1949, Serial No. 113,002

This invention relates to an apparatus of the type utilizing electric currents for the purpose of treating soil and killing weeds. Electrical apparatus has heretofore been applied to the treatment of soil and also for the purpose of killing weeds. When the weeds of a soil area are destroyed by electrical apparatus it is found that subsequently planted crops are frequently benefitted beyond the mere results of weed elimination. It is believed that the electrical treatment has an effect upon the minerals of the soil so as to render these more susceptible for use as plant food.

Previous to the present invention the electrical treatment of soil and weeds has been carried out mainly through the use of mechanical contacts. While apparatus of such type is eliective for weed destruction, particularly for the larger plants, it may be ineffective in destroying some of the more tiny weed plants not brought into contact with the mechanical electrodes.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the electrical treatment of soil and the destruction of weeds which apparatus is more effective than that heretofore known and capable of reaching more of the small weeds than apparatus of the past. In accordance with the present invention we eifect contact with the plant or soil to be treated by spraying onto the soil and to the weeds to be treated water or other conductive or partially conductive liquid which carries the electrical current which is to eifect the treatment. The fluid sprayed upon the soil or weeds to be killed insures that even tiny plants which may be hidden behind clods of soil are nevertheless brought within the zone of effective treatment. By the apparatus of the present invention therefore we eliminate blind spots where in the past practice there has been ineffective weed killing,

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical apparatus for treatment of weeds and soil in which a novel means is included for concentrating the spray on a particu lar area to be acted upon.

In accordance with the apparatus of the present invention water or other partially conductive liquid is supplied continuously to a pipe spaced a few inches above the ground and carried preferably to the rear of a truck or other vehicle so as to be moved in a transverse direction. The pipe is provided at its lower side with a series of spray nozzles through which the water or other liquid is intended to be successively sprayed onto the ground or weed plants to be killed. In order 3 Claims. (CI. 47-13) to .direct the liquid successively from the difierent spray nozzles there is provided a rotor revolving within the pipe, which rotor has one or more spirally extending grooves, which grooves thus provide means by which the fluid is successively passed to and shut oif from the different sequence of spray nozzles at the lower side of the pipe. A source of high electrical potential capable of handling a number of kilowatts of power is provided on the vehicle with one side thereof grounded to the earth and the other side connected with this pipe so that the fluid spray therefrom to the weed or plant completes the electrical circuit. The water being sprayed from the different spray nozzles of the pipe thus, in effect, constitutes a liquid electrode searching out and reaching all of the area to be treated.

Other objects and advantages of the apparatus of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the preferred example of an apparatus embodying the invention, the description being given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a rear view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the roller;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an electrical diagram.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a vehicle or truck 2 upon which is mounted the remaining apparatus of the invention in order that the same may be transported over an area of soil which is to be treated. Upon the truck body is mounted a tank 3 which is intended to contain Water or other partially conductive material such, for example, as a salt solution, which in certain cases may be a solution of plant food such as potash, nitrate or phosphate. In order to effect lubrication of certain portions of the apparatus hereafter described the contents of the tank 3 may include some oily emulsion. The tank 3 is supported on the truck 2 by fram members 4 which are of insulating material so as to insulate the tank from the frame of the truck. A line 5 which may be controlled by a valve 6 leads from tank 3 to the pipe 1.

The pipe I is mounted by brackets 8 extending from the rear of the truck 2. These brackets 8 are composed of insulating material. The pipe I has reduced ends 9 extending into the bracket 8 3 which reduced ends are engaged by set screws or bolts I0.

Within the pipe 1 there is provided a rotor II which rotor l l at one end is provided with a stub shaft revolvable in bearings [3 in one of the brackets 8 and at the other end the rotor II is provided with a stub shaft [4 which extends through a packing gland l6. The shaft I4 is provided with a gear H by which connection is made through a chain drive iii to a drive shaft l9 extending from an electric motor 20 mounted on the truck 2. The stub shaft M of the rotor II at least should be constructed of the insulatingmaa terial so as to electrically insulate the pip 1 from the chain l8 and the frame of. the truckiL The rotor H is provided with a central groove 2| which aligns with a boss22 atthe-center of the pipe 1 Which boss is connected'with the line leading from the tank 3. The rotor [216 is also."

provided with one or more spiral grooves 23 and 24 which spiral grooves are 180 advanced from eachother. The spiral grooves-extend from end. to end on the body of the rotor H a-nd mak e one complete rotation of the rotor. At the lower side of thecenter ofthepipe l is provided a lineof spaced-apart spray nozzles 25 eachof which is directed vertically downwardly.

. At therear of the vehicle. there are provided a. numbenof depending rods 26-, each. of which is provided with: a downwardly and rearwardly extendin spring arm 21 which are intendedfor making a spring contactwiththe soilover which the vehicle passes and thus grounding and providing a ground connection for the apparatus; In certain cases the ground connection. for. the apparatus may be provided by a spray type contact similar to that shown, for example, in Fig. 3, there thus being two of. these apparatuses present, one for forming each connection withthe former 28 is shown as having one side connected to grounding spring arms 21 while theother'side is connected to the pipe 7-.

In operation of the apparatus of the present invention it is to be understood that"th'e apparatus is driven slowly over the area of: soil to be it processed. During this operation the motorxrZll is continually rotating the rotor: II through the drive-shaft l9 and chain it. At the'sameitime the liquid from the tank 3' is passingthrough line 5 into the groove 2| of the rotor II from which it is taken by one of the twospiral grooves 23 and 24 of the rotor and causedto beejeoted from one of the nozzles 25, each nozzle 25being in succession rendered effective. Simultaneously;

a potential of from 6000 to 20,000 volts is placed between the ground and the pipe 1 so that the fluid sprayed from the successive jets 25 constitutes a means for completing a large power electric circuit. All portions of the soil and the weeds contained thereon are successively brought into treatment according to the zone of treatment so that even tiny plants are effectively reached by the apparatus. At the: same time thevelectrical treatment acts effectively on the soil so as to condition that soil for more effective growth of subsequent planted crops.

While the. particular form of the apparatus herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects. of; the invention it is to be understood. that various modifications and changes may be made and this apparatus is of the scope set forth in the appended claims.

We: claim:

1. An apparatus for treating soil and weeds whichv comprises. means for generating a source of electrical. potential, meansfor connecting one side of said.- source to the earth, a spray pipe-,- means for supporting,v said spray pipe over a-soilareapsaidspray pipe having a series of spraynozzlesv in .its lower end, a rotor mounted with in-saidspray pipe, means for continually rotating. said. rotor, said rotor being provided with spiralgrooves, means for supplying fluid to said spiral grooves.- whereby the fluid is-ernitted from saidspray nozzles in succession, said spray pipe being connected to saidsource ofpotential.

2. An apparatus for treating soil and weeds which. comprises means for generating. a source of electrical potential, means forconnectingone side of said source. tothe earth, a spray pipe, means. for supporting saidspraypipe over a-soil area, saidspray pipe having a series of spray nozzles in. its lower end, arotor mounted within said. spray. pipe, means for continually rotating said' rotor, said rotor being providedwith spiral grooves, means.for. supplying fluid tosaid spiral grooves whereby the fluid is emitted from said spray nozzlesin succession, said spray pipe being connected to. saidsourceof potential, and means for transporting. said apparatus relative to a soil area to be treated.

3. An apparatus for treating soil and weeds which comprises: a vehicle, means. for. generating a. source of electrical potentialmounted on' said vehicle. a fiuidcontainer mounted onsaidvehicle,, a transversely extending. spray pipe to. the rear of said vehicle disposed above. the. ground, said pipe having a plurality of spray nozzles-die rected downwardly, means. for supplying. fluid from said'ltank to said pipe, a rotor revolvable in said'pi pe for directing said fluid. to. said spray nozzles in succession, and means connecting; said spraypipe toisaidsource of potential so as to act" as an electrode thereofl FRED W. OPP; "WALTER; H. OPPI No. references cited. 

